Can memory become as flexible as compute? A CXL controller is designed to expand capacity while improving resource utilisation for AI servers.
Montage Technology has announced the industry’s first trial production of a Compute Express Link (CXL) 3.2 Memory eXpander Controller (MXC) chip, targeting the growing memory demands of AI, cloud computing and data centre workloads. The controller is designed to enable memory expansion and resource pooling, allowing servers to overcome conventional memory capacity limitations while improving infrastructure flexibility.
As AI models continue to grow in size, memory capacity and bandwidth have become key constraints in server performance. CXL-based memory expansion allows systems to attach additional memory resources without relying solely on directly installed DRAM, enabling more efficient utilisation of available memory across multiple workloads. The approach also supports emerging architectures such as memory pooling and tiered memory, which are expected to play a larger role in next-generation data centres.
The CXL 3.2 MXC complies with the CXL Type 3 specification and supports both CXL.mem and CXL.io protocols. It incorporates PCIe 6.x and CXL 3.2 support, delivering data transfer rates of up to 64GT/s. The controller integrates dual DDR5 memory controllers supporting memory speeds of up to 8000MT/s and translates host-side CXL memory requests into DDR commands in real time. Additional integration includes PCIe 6.x PHY, DDR5 PHY, dual RISC-V processor subsystems and management interfaces. The chip also supports multiple memory expansion form factors, including PCIe add-in cards and EDSFF modules, enabling deployment across a range of server designs.
Montage Technology also provides a software development kit, analysis tools and validation support to accelerate product development. The controller has already been integrated into next-generation CXL memory products from Samsung and SK hynix, with initial validation completed, and is designed for compatibility with Intel Xeon and AMD EPYC server platforms.
“The trial production of the CXL 3.2 MXC chip marks an important milestone in Montage Technology’s pursuit of CXL innovation and commercialisation. As memory demands continue to surge in the AI era, we are providing our customers with high-bandwidth, large-capacity and highly reliable memory expansion solutions, accelerating the large-scale adoption of CXL in data centre and AI infrastructure,” says Stephen Tai, President at Montage Technology.
